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Thousands of members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and seven other affiliate bodies have besieged the Taraba State House of Assembly to protest against a bill in the House that seeks to prohibit open grazing in the state, Daily Trust reports.
The protesters who came to the state capital Jalingo from 16 local government areas, took to major streets carrying placards.
Members of the association also converged on the gate of the state House of Assembly where the chairman presented a protest letter to the speaker.
The state Chairman of Miyyetti Allah, Alhaji Sahabi Mahmud Tukur said the bill contravened the Nigerian constitution and would cause hardship to cattle breeders.
“This obnoxious bill, if it is allowed to become a law, would be an infringement on the rights of citizens of this country,” Tukur said.
In his response, the Speaker, Peter Diah, said the bill would be subjected to public hearing across the three senatorial districts, and urged the Miyetti Allah and other members of the public to avail themselves of the opportunity to express their reservations.